Ancelotti changes his tune

Carlo Ancelotti arrived at Real Madrid promising a change in style, assuring that his side would dominate games; that the passing game would become the main philosophy at the Santiago Bernabéu after being very much on the back-burner. However, just one month into the season, things are not turning out that way.

Real Madrid is used to playing at breakneck speed, and that takes a long time to change. The team has acquired certain reflexes over the years and Ancelotti's commitment to playing passing football has gradually been eroded since he started working on tactical changes during the preseason.

The sale of German player Mesut Özil and the purchase of Welshman Gareth Bale is another reason behind the Italian manager's change in mentality. Instead of Real Madrid adapting to the style which Ancelotti planned to introduce, it is the coach who has had to adapt to the type of game required by players of a certain nature.

Players as fast and direct as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Di María, linking up with speedsters like Karim Benzema, provide certain characteristics which it would be remiss not to exploit. Forcing them to pass the ball around and slow down the game would be a waste of some of their greatest virtues.

That is why Ancelotti, despite not being happy with his team's play, has changed his tune slightly. "We're trying to play a little differently, but the most important thing is to have a game plan, and we have one," he admits.